pendulum motion when you ’ re fishing at any speed .” The Dropkick jig comes in three different sizes : 1 / 32-inch , 3 / 64-inch , and 1 / 16 inch . “ The 1 / 32 is what we typically use when we ’ re fishing for crappie and bluegill . The larger models are good for bigger fish , because it allows for bigger presentation . They ’ re good for perch , trout , or any other fish you ’ ll find in Vermont . I like to fish with plastic lures more than live bait , so I pair it with my Makiplastic Clam Pro Tackle lures , including the lure that I helped to design myself , the ‘ JAMEI .’”
Vladyka says that one of the most invaluable tools in his ice fishing arsenal is the Vexilar flasher , a fish-finding machine that allows him to track the movements of his lure and the fish underneath the ice through electronic signals . “ With a flasher , you can see everything that ’ s down there . I like to think of it as taking the blindfold off .” The Vexilar detects objects of varying densities in the water using a spherical sensory instrument , which is known as a transducer . Once an ice fisher drills a hole , they set the transducer in the water underneath the ice . It relays an electronic message to a display screen , which shows any object that breaks the path of the sonar ’ s return signal underwater in real time .
The display screen has tiered subsections on it that correspond to different depths in the water . Objects underneath the surface appear on the Vexilar screen as colorful lines , which are color-coded to match their relative density . For example , red lines on the Vexilar screen indicate a dense , solid object , such as a fish or the floor of a body of water , and green lines indicate less dense material , such as weeds or other aquatic plants . When an ice fisher drops their lure into the water , they will see a colorful line moving downward on the
Vexilar ’ s screen . If a fish is interested in the lure , they will see the fish displayed as a separate color line , which moves upward towards the color line that corresponds to the lure . This allows them to adjust the motion and depth of their lure to better attract their fish . The Vexilar ’ s magnification scale can also be adjusted to accommodate deeper waters , as well , allowing ice fishers to move between different bodies of water with minimal complications .
When fishing with the Vexilar , Vladyka uses specific techniques to maximize the efficacy of the technology . “ You never drop into exactly where the fish is . You always stop above them . Think of it like a Christmas tree — you ’ re going to stop at the top of the Christmas tree and work your way down . If the fish are down there and you drop down and stop above them , you can get them to come up . If a fish comes
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